What to Write in a Sympathy Card?

Sympathy Card For Every Occasion

Sympathy Card Messages, Quotes and Poems

A sympathy card or letter communicates your feelings of compassion, understanding and concern for the one who has lost someone close and dear. A sympathy card does not need to be elaborate or too wordy yet it should deliver your feelings and concern for your friend, colleague or relative.

 

When to Write a Sympathy Card?

A sympathy card is written when someone dear to your friend, colleague, relative, business acquaintance passes and you wish to inform them of your concern and compassion. Here are a few samples sympathy cards that help convey your compassion.

Etiquette Guideline for Writing a Sympathy Card

While writing a sympathy card, you must note that your words must offer comfort. Though it is difficult to express your feeling in a note, try to write down the sorrow you feel and the sympathy you want to convey.

1. Send your sympathy note as soon as possible.
2. Even if you plan to attend the funeral, a sympathy note is a must thing. However, if you personally sympathize on the funeral then sympathy card is not required.
3. Keep your sympathy note brief and to the point.
4. Write down about the recent loss with a proper relationship for example; “I was so sorry to hear about the demise of your father….”
5. If you had a personal relationship with that person, include a personal line. For example, “Katty was so nice and polite towards me when I was jobless….”
6. Offer help to show your sincerity. For example, “Please let me know if you want something for dinner tomorrow”
7. Offer comfort while closing sympathy note. For example, “Please know we are thinking about you….”

Sympathy Card Sayings and Standard Format

Opening Salutations

Dear Julie,

Dear Julie and John,

Dear Julie, John and Family,

Dear Hopkins Family,

Body

Formatting of the body depends on the kind of acquaintance you had with the deceased. In case of knowing the bereaved but having no acquaintance with the deceased you can write:

• You have my sincere condolences on the loss of your mother.
• Please accept my heartfelt sympathy on the passing of your dear uncle.
• You have my deepest sympathies on the death of your grandfather.
• I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family.
• I was deeply saddened to hear of your loss. My thoughts are with you.

On the other hand, if you personally knew the deceased but are not acquainted with the bereaved:

• Julie will be sorely missed by us.
• Julie will be sadly missed but warmly remembered in our office.
• I will especially miss Julie’s warm smile and kindness.
• John’s character was an inspiration to so many.
• Julie was a dear friend and she will always be  remembered well.

Closing Your Sympathy Message

Closings are mostly kept simple and clean.

Regards,

Your sincerely,

Truly yours,

Sign a Sympathy Card With Words of Comfort and Condolences

I’m praying for you	With thoughts of peace and courage for you,
You are in my thoughts	We send you thoughts of peace and courage.
With Deepest Sympathy	Our hearts go out to you in your time of sorrow.
My sincere sympathy	“Name of Deceased” will remain in our hearts forever.
With Heartfelt Condolences	We pray the love of God enfolds you during your journey through grief.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you	We send you thoughts of comfort.
He/She will never be forgotten	Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss…our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
The memory of him/her will always be in our hearts	With love and hugs,
Thinking of you	We will miss “name of deceased”.
Thinking of you during this difficult time	We share comfort in knowing “name of deceased” is no longer suffering.  We send thoughts of sympathy and support to you as you begin your journey without “name of deceased”.
May God’s Grace strengthen you	Name of deceased” brought so many gifts to our life. We will never forget him/her!
With loving memories of “name of deceased”,	May your heart and soul find peace and comfort.
Sent with love and remembrance,	Peace, Prayers and Blessings,
Remembering you and “name of deceased” in our minds and in our hearts.	We are here to support you in your grieving process.; With sincere sympathy,
Words seem inadequate to express the sadness we feel about “name of deceased” death.

Sympathy Quotes

May the blessings of love be upon you, May its peace abide with you, May its essence illuminate your heart, Now and forever more.

-Sufi Blessing

In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing.

-Robert Ingersoll

A human life is a story told by God.

–Hans Christian Andersen

While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil.

–John Taylor

Unable are the loved to die.  For love is immortality.

-Emily Dickinson

He kept at true good humor’s mark

The social flow of pleasure’s tide:

He never made a brow look dark,

Nor caused a tear, but when he died.

–Thomas Love Peacock

With what a deep devotedness of woe

I wept thy absence – o’er and o’er again

Thinking of thee, still thee, till thought grew pain,

And memory, like a drop that, night and day,

Falls cold and ceaseless, wore my heart away!

-Thomas Moore

Words and Phrases to Avoid in a Sympathy Card

While writing a sympathy card, avoid some of the commonly used sentences which would make your card sound flippant and immature.

I know how you feel.	It was his time to go.
It’s for the best.	Tomorrow will be a better day.
Time heals all wounds.	This too shall pass.
He is in a better place now.	He won’t suffer anymore.
I hope you will feel better soon.	Sending happy thoughts your way.

Sympathy Card for an Uncle

Who to Address?

If you are writing to your uncle on the loss of his spouse or child then address the card to him as you usually would. If the deceased one is your uncle then address the card to his spouse, your cousin or someone elder from the same family.

What to Write?

If you intend yours to be a detailed card then write about some memory that you have had of him. You can include that how well he influenced you in certain aspects of your life and how you will always remember him for that.

Sympathy Card for a Jew

Who to Address?

Address the card to your acquaintance, senior family member or the family in general.

What to Write?

Unlike Catholic mourning where sympathy cards, letters or flower baskets are sent to express your condolences, in Jews mourning the ritual of Shiva (special grieving for the deceased) is also observed. You can send a donation in the name of the family accompanied by fruit or food basket or platter, in case they are going to sit Shiva (mourning). You can include the following Jewish proverbs:

• After this journey through the dark, you’ll find the path once again where light still shines. I believe in you.
• Sympathy doesn’t provide food, but it makes hunger more endurable.

Sympathy Card for a Pet

Who to Address?

Address the card to the owner of the pet. You can write something like; “In loving memory of Dobberman”.

What to Write?

Write what a great pet your friend had. In case of pet sympathy cards, you can experiment with something sweet, adorable, silly or funny. You can include; “Would miss Dobberman’s paws or his awful tongue”. You can also include a pet loss poem in your card from here.

Sympathy Card Examples

Sample Sympathy Card Message #1

Dear Jane,

May the God who makes prayer out of our speechless grief be present to you today.

Regards,

John

Sample Sympathy Card Message #2

My Beloved Peter,

I want so much to help you and be there for you. Yet I know nothing can fix this heartache. Please know that you are not alone. You are continually in my thoughts and prayers. I want to help in any way I can.

Yours Truly,

Alice

Sympathy Thank You Cards

A sympathy thank you card is sent in return for expressing your feelings when someone sends a sympathy card. Often times, it is sent when you have a close relation with that person or someone offered you more than a simple card. For example, someone offered their services for laundry or cooking for few days, or they dropped your kids off to school when you feeling too low etc. A sympathy thank you card should be brief and should consist of one or 2 lines.